Best Philadelphia Medical Malpractice Attorneys

Medical malpractice lawyers in Philadelphia handle cases affected by Pennsylvania's venue rules, which changed in 2023. The change expanded the circumstances in which certain medical malpractice claims can be filed in a county where a healthcare provider does business. Venue can affect where your case is heard and which jury considers it. The firms below can help determine whether Philadelphia is an appropriate venue for your claim.

To compile this list, we review Philadelphia Medical Malpractice Lawyers based on public information, client feedback, and professional standing.

  • Bar standing and public disciplinary history review
  • Documented case results and courtroom trial experience
  • Peer recognition within the legal community
  • Client reviews, communication, and responsiveness
  • Consistency of public reviews across multiple platforms

Rankings are determined independently based on public information and editorial research.

Leading Philadelphia Malpractice Firms for Birth Injury & Misdiagnosis Claims

Screenshot of the Wapner Newman Website
1628 John F Kennedy Blvd #800, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA

A $227 million construction accident result, the largest lawsuit verdict in Pennsylvania history, sits at the top of this firm's record. Wapner Newman has represented Philadelphia medical malpractice victims since 1978 and has won more than $1 billion for clients.

Birth injury work is a major focus. The team handles cerebral palsy, hypoxic brain damage, shoulder dystocia, and delayed cesarean claims, plus anesthesia mistakes and delayed cancer diagnosis.

Results include $7 million in a birth trauma case and $5.8 million for obstetrical negligence. Consultations are free, and clients owe nothing unless the firm wins.

Screenshot of the Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers Website
518 E Township Line Rd Suite 100, Blue Bell, PA 19422, USA

Eight offices across the state make this Blue Bell practice one of the few injury firms that litigates in every Pennsylvania county. Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers has been in business more than 25 years.

Medical malpractice sits alongside nursing home neglect, catastrophic crash, and construction injury work. Ten lawyers and 40 staff carry an inventory of over 750 cases.

The best-known result is $21.3 million against Greyhound after a driver fell asleep on I-80, the largest recovery of its kind recorded in the state. Partner Jon Ostroff serves as a Judge Pro Tem mediator in Philadelphia County.

Screenshot of the The Villari Firm, PLLC Website
258 South 11th Street 1st floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA

The Villari Firm, PLLC concentrates on birth injury and hospital negligence claims from an office near Washington Square West. Heidi G. Villari leads the practice.

Cases cover cerebral palsy, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, Erb's palsy, uterine rupture, NICU errors, and failure to diagnose cancer or stroke. Families looking for a medical malpractice attorney in Philadelphia will find more than $125 million recovered here.

Notable outcomes include a $20 million settlement for a brain-damaged baby and an $11 million childbirth verdict. The firm also serves Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Scranton, and two New Jersey counties.

Screenshot of the Law Offices of Judy Greenwood PC - medical malpractice lawyers Website

Judy Greenwood has litigated medical negligence claims for over 40 years and ranks among the top 25 women trial lawyers in Pennsylvania. Her Center City practice is women-owned and family-run.

The office has recovered more than $90 million. That includes $12 million in a pediatric misdiagnosis case and $7 million for cerebral palsy caused by a delayed c-section.

Partner Stephen P. Ulan holds National Trial Lawyers Top 100 recognition. A doctor-lawyer reviews the medical facts before the team decides whether care fell below standard. A second office sits in Plymouth Meeting.

Screenshot of the Hoover Medical Malpractice Website

Few Philadelphia practices narrow their work this far. Hoover Medical Malpractice Law Firm takes labor and delivery negligence, cancer misdiagnosis, and stroke claims almost exclusively.

Attorney Dave Hoover handles HIE, brachial plexus, and meconium aspiration cases, along with missed diagnoses of breast, colon, lung, and ovarian cancer.

Stroke claims often turn on failure to give clot-busting drugs in time or misread imaging. A second office serves Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, and the site includes a Spanish-language page. Payment comes only out of a recovery.

Screenshot of the Fine Staud and Levy LLC Website
1333 Race St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA

Louis S. Fine opened this Race Street office in 1958, and the family still runs it from the same address. His sons Robert and David Fine, plus grandson Theodore Levy, bring nearly 80 years of combined experience.

Beyond medical error claims, the practice covers auto, bus, trolley, and construction accidents, with a separate workers' compensation department led by David Sansweet.

Six attorneys and staff members have been here longer than 30 years. Clients deal directly with an attorney rather than a paralegal. Se habla español.

Screenshot of the The Beasley Firm, LLC Website
1125 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA

More than $2 billion recovered since 1958 puts The Beasley Firm among the most decorated trial practices in the Commonwealth. Its $100 million verdict in Vlazny v. Cavarrocci, involving a heart surgeon and a premature newborn, ranks among the largest malpractice awards in state history.

The firm also won a $907 million judgment against Ira Einhorn and a $104 million verdict for September 11th families.

Obstetrical negligence, product liability, and aviation cases fill much of the docket. Offices operate in Philadelphia, Coatesville, State College, and Cherry Hill.

Screenshot of the Lowenthal & Abrams, Injury Lawyers Website
555 E City Ave Suite 500, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004, USA

A medical doctor and a nurse work in-house here, which is rare for a practice this size. Lowenthal & Abrams has handled malpractice claims since 1975 and won over $200 million across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.

Seventeen attorneys take surgical mistakes, delivery injuries, nursing home neglect, and workers' compensation matters.

Offices run from Bala Cynwyd out to Pittsburgh, Erie, Harrisburg, Cherry Hill, and Manhattan. Cases are handled on contingency, so nothing comes out of pocket.

Screenshot of the Wieand Law Firm LLC Website
1800 John F Kennedy Blvd #1400, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA

Wieand Law Firm, LLC represents people seriously hurt by another party's negligence across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Recent results include a $1.35 million malpractice recovery and $1.5 million in a wrongful death claim.

Brent Wieand's team also takes class actions and complex product cases. Alongside the Center City office, appointments are available in Malvern, Radnor, Plymouth Meeting, and Cherry Hill.

Screenshot of the Laffey Bucci D'Andrea Reich & Ryan Website
1100 Ludlow St Suite 300, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA

More than $850 million recovered and 140 years of combined courtroom time back this Ludlow Street practice. Laffey Bucci D'Andrea Reich & Ryan won $101 million in the Tropicana garage collapse, the largest construction accident settlement in U.S. history.

Medical negligence claims share the docket with sexual abuse, crime victim, and catastrophic workplace litigation. Several attorneys came from prosecutors' offices.

Screenshot of the Mattiacci Law, LLC Website
1500 John F Kennedy Blvd # 620, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA

John Mattiacci handles each case at his firm personally, from the first call through settlement or trial. He belongs to the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums, groups limited to a small share of attorneys nationwide.

Malpractice work sits beside car, truck, construction, and brain injury claims. Results include $9 million involving defective construction equipment. A second office serves Moorestown, New Jersey.

Screenshot of the Morris Wilson Knepp Jacquette, P.C. Website
161 Washington St #900, Conshohocken, PA 19428, USA

A deliberately small roster keeps caseloads light at Morris Wilson Knepp Jacquette, P.C., which has recovered over $75 million. Recent awards include $7.7 million in Philadelphia and $6.3 million in Montgomery County.

Super Lawyers has named its attorneys among Pennsylvania's Top 100 every year since 2008. The work centers on stroke and heart attack misdiagnosis, aortic dissection, and hospital system failures.

Screenshot of the Edelstein Law LLP Website
230 S Broad St #900, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA

Edelstein Law LLP takes hospital negligence, surgical error, misdiagnosis, and birth injury claims throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Jay L. Edelstein holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

The firm also handles SEPTA claims and institutional sexual abuse cases, an unusual pairing for an injury practice. A second office operates in Cherry Hill.

Screenshot of the Rosen Justice Website
100 S Broad St # 1519, Philadelphia, PA 19110, USA

Gonen Haklay tried over 100 jury trials as a Philadelphia homicide prosecutor before moving to civil work. He now handles malpractice and injury claims here alongside founding partner Laurence Rosen.

The team lists more than 75 years of combined experience and works on contingency. A second office sits in Jenkintown.

Screenshot of the Kane & Silverman P.C. Website
2401 Pennsylvania Ave Suite 1A5, Philadelphia, PA 19130, USA

Since 1990, Kane & Silverman P.C. has represented injured people across Pennsylvania and South Jersey. Howard G. Silverman carries Super Lawyers and Million Dollar Advocates recognition.

Beyond malpractice, the office takes bad faith insurance and dram shop claims. One attorney and paralegal stay with a file start to finish. Spanish-speaking clients are served, and a Marlton office covers New Jersey.

Screenshot of the Carpey Law Website
600 W Germantown Pike Suite 400, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462, USA

Stuart A. Carpey has represented Pennsylvania accident victims since 1987, with 4,000 cases won, 750 arbitrations, and 70 trials behind him.

He evaluates, negotiates, and tries each matter himself rather than passing it down. Carpey Law was voted Boutique Personal Injury Law Firm of the Year in Pennsylvania in 2016.

Screenshot of the The Weitz Firm, LLC Website
1515 Market St #1100, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA

The Weitz Firm, LLC is a boutique civil trial practice on Market Street that stays selective about the cases it accepts. Eric H. Weitz has tried cases since 1992.

Verdicts include $8.6 million for a child brain-damaged by an unexplained delivery delay and $6 million for a spinal infection missed in an emergency room.

Screenshot of the Donaghue & Labrum, LLP Website
102 W Front St, Media, PA 19063, USA

Working out of Media, Donaghue & Labrum, LLP has delivered over $45 million to clients across the past five years. The partners have tried cases in Delaware, Chester, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties.

Evening, weekend, and in-hospital meetings are available for clients who cannot travel.

Screenshot of the Law Office of Leon Aussprung MD, LLC Website
1800 John F Kennedy Blvd #1500, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA

Leon Aussprung practiced as a board-certified pediatrician for 14 years before turning to law. That background shapes how his office reads charts and cross-examines expert witnesses.

Results include $8 million for a brain-damaged premature infant and $4.9 million after a delayed delivery. A second physician-attorney, Irwin L. Lifrak, MD, JD, works alongside him.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a medical malpractice lawyer in Philadelphia cost?

Nothing upfront. Nearly every firm on this list works on a contingency fee, so the lawyer is paid from the recovery. Expert witnesses and records fees are usually advanced by the firm and repaid at the end.

How long do I have to file a malpractice claim in Pennsylvania?

Two years, usually. The clock generally runs from the date of injury. Under the discovery rule it may start later, when the harm reasonably should have been found. Children can typically file until age 20.

What is a certificate of merit?

A required expert sign-off. Pennsylvania makes you file one within 60 days of the complaint. A qualified medical professional must state that the care fell outside accepted standards. Miss it and the case can be dismissed.

Does Pennsylvania cap medical malpractice damages?

No cap on compensatory damages. Medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering are not limited by statute. Punitive damages are capped at 200% of the compensatory award, with a narrow exception for intentional misconduct.

Can I file in Philadelphia if the treatment happened elsewhere?

Often yes, since 2023. The Supreme Court removed the old rule limiting suits to the county where care occurred. A case can now be filed where a defendant regularly conducts business or can be served.

How long does a Philadelphia malpractice case take?

Roughly two years after filing. The Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas runs a case management system with firm deadlines. Counties without one commonly take three to four years to reach resolution.

What if the hospital says the outcome was just a known risk?

Bad outcomes are not automatically negligence. The question is whether the provider met the standard of care. That is settled by medical experts reviewing the chart, not by the hospital's own account.

Types of Medical Malpractice Cases in Philadelphia

Birth injury. Claims involve cerebral palsy, oxygen deprivation, shoulder dystocia, and delayed cesarean deliveries. Philadelphia's large obstetric and neonatal programs, including several teaching hospitals, generate a steady share of these cases.

Misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis. Missed cancers, strokes, heart attacks, and sepsis are the most common. The harm is usually the lost treatment window rather than the original illness.

Surgical errors. These include wrong-site procedures, nerve and organ damage, retained instruments, and post-operative bleeding that goes unmonitored.

Emergency room negligence. Crowded ERs across Center City and North Philadelphia produce triage failures, premature discharges, and misread imaging.

Medication and anesthesia errors. Wrong drug, wrong dose, and unmonitored sedation cases turn on pharmacy records and nursing notes.

Hospital and nursing negligence. A hospital can be liable for its own systemic failures, such as inadequate staffing or unenforced infection control policies.

Nursing home neglect. Pressure ulcers, dehydration, falls, and untreated infections in long-term care facilities across the region.

Wrongful death. When a patient dies, the estate brings a survival action and eligible relatives bring a separate wrongful death claim.

How to Choose a Medical Malpractice Lawyer in Philadelphia

Ask about venue strategy. Since the rule change, where to file is a real decision. A firm should explain why Philadelphia County suits your case, or why another county does.

Check their expert network. These claims rise or fall on medical testimony. Some firms keep a physician or nurse on staff to screen charts before filing.

Confirm they try cases. Insurers track which firms actually reach verdict. A practice that only settles has less leverage in negotiation.

Look at case type, not just volume. A birth injury claim and a cancer misdiagnosis claim need different experts and different proof.

Read the fee agreement. Ask what percentage applies and whether it changes at trial. Confirm who carries case costs if the claim does not succeed.

Ask who handles your file. Some firms give you a partner throughout. Others move you to associates and paralegals after signing.

What Affects Medical Malpractice Settlement Amounts in Philadelphia

Values swing widely, and no lawyer can quote a range before reviewing the records. The strongest drivers are the severity and permanence of the injury, the cost of lifetime care, and lost earning capacity. Liability matters just as much. A clear deviation from the standard of care settles for more than a contested one.

Insurance limits also set a practical ceiling. Pennsylvania requires providers to carry primary coverage, with the MCARE Fund supplying excess layers above it. Because compensatory damages are uncapped, catastrophic cases in Philadelphia County have produced multi-million dollar verdicts. Punitive damages are rare and capped at twice the compensatory award. Of any punitive award, 25% goes to the MCARE Fund rather than the plaintiff.